Restorative Dentistry
Salem, OR
 Restorative dentistry is a specialized branch of dental care focused on repairing and restoring the function and appearance of teeth that have been damaged, decayed, or lost due to trauma, disease, infection, or natural wear. Restorative dentistry is a range of treatments and procedures aimed at enhancing both the health and appearance of our patient's smiles. These procedures use advanced materials and technologies to rebuild tooth structures, fill cavities, replace missing teeth, and create durable restorations that mimic the natural look and feel of healthy teeth. Through restorative dentistry, we improve oral health, restore the functions of eating and speaking normally, and enhance a patient's overall quality of life.
Introduction to Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is a section of dental care that focuses on repairing and rebuilding damaged and missing teeth to restore their appearance and function. This part of dentistry addresses a wide range of dental issues including cavities, fractures, wear and tear, pulp infection, and tooth loss. Patients may seek out restorative dentistry due to decay, trauma, or other factors. The primary focus of restorative dentistry is to preserve the patient's natural teeth whenever possible, and to repair any compromised teeth.
Common restorative procedures include fillings, crowns, bridges, root canal therapy, implants, and full & partial dentures. All of these procedures improve oral health, restore proper chewing and speaking functions, and restore the appearance of the smile. Restorative dentistry is crucial to maintain dental wellness overall, and improve our patients' confidence and quality of life. A restorative dentistry strategy ensures that our your teeth are functional, comfortable, and easy on the eyes.
Common Restorative Dentistry Procedures
Restorative dentistry encompasses a variety of procedures that are designed to solve multiple dental problems, and restore the health and appearance of your smile. These common restorative procedures are vital to maintain oral health, function, and cosmetics. They allow our patients to enjoy a restored smile, and restored confidence.
Dental Fillings
One of the most common procedures is dental fillings. They are used to treat cavities caused by decay. Dental fillings are made from materials such as amalgam, composite resin, or porcelain. All of these materials provide durable and natural looking results.
Dental Crowns
Another common restorative treatment is dental crown placement, which is used to cover and protect a damaged or weakened tooth. Crowns are custom crafted to match the patient's natural teeth. Dental crowns restore the strength, shape, and function of a tooth as well as improve its appearance.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are used to replace missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to the adjacent natural teeth. Dental bridges may also be anchored to dental implants. Patients benefit from bridges because they keep the remaining natural teeth from shifting, and becoming misaligned.
Dental Implants
For individuals with one or more missing teeth, dental implants offer a permanent solution by surgically placing artificial tooth roots into the jawbone to support a single crown, implant supported bridge, or implant supported dentures.
Benefits of Restorative Dental Treatments
The most important advantage of restorative dentistry is the restoration of proper dental function. These dental procedures allow our patients to smile, speak, and eat comfortably again. When we repair damaged or missing teeth, we maintain the alignment and integrity of surrounding teeth. This prevents further dental issues such as shifting teeth and misalignment.
Another huge benefit is the enhancement to the cosmetics of a patient's smile. A restored smile restores self confidence. Restorative treatments improve the appearance of teeth, and create a natural and pleasing smile that boosts self esteem. In addition, these procedures contribute to long term oral health by reducing the risk of decay, infection, and gum disease that often come with untreated dental issues. Ultimately, restorative dental treatments give our patients improved oral function, an enhanced appearance of their smiles, and a better overall quality of life.
Dental Implants: The Ultimate Tooth Replacement Solution
Dental implants are the ultimate tooth replacement solution because they mimic natural teeth, including the root. They are extremely durable, and can last a lifetime with proper care. The ability to mimic tooth roots also makes dental implants the most functional restoration, and gives them the most natural appearance possible.
Unlike traditional full and partial dentures, or bridges, dental implants are designed to mimic the structure of natural teeth. We replace the missing tooth root with a titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. This integration with the jawbone provides a stable foundation for an implant supported crown that looks and functions just like a natural tooth.
One of the biggest benefits of dental implants is their ability to prevent bone density loss in the jaw, which is a common aftereffect of tooth loss. In addition, the durability of dental implants makes them a cost effective long term solution compared to other tooth replacement options. They're a long term investment in oral health. Lastly, dental implants restore normal chewing and eating without the diet limitations that come with traditional dentures. When patients choose dental implants, they enjoy a natural looking, long lasting smile, and an improved quality of life.
Dental Crowns and Bridges: Restoring Your Smile
Dental crowns and bridges are essential components of restorative dentistry that regenerate smiles affected by damaged or missing teeth. Dental bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to adjacent natural teeth, or anchoring to dental implants.
Dental crowns are custom made covers that encase a damaged or decayed tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance. They are often used to protect a weakened tooth after a root canal treatment, or to restore a tooth with a large filling. Crowns may also be placed with dental implants to replace single missing teeth.
Both dental crowns and bridges are crafted to blend seamlessly with natural teeth. These restorations provide durability, function, and look great. These restorative solutions play a vital role in restorative dentistry. They improve the ability to chew, and boost our patients' confidence by restoring the integrity and beauty of their smiles. |
